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Press Releases04 May 20

Church Leaders discuss church re–openings

Following
their latest video conference meeting on Friday (1 May), the leaders of
Ireland’s main Churches discussed the re–opening of churches and church buildings for collective worship and the
possibility of their re–opening for private personal prayer.

In
a joint statement, the leaders of the Church of Ireland, Methodist
Church in Ireland, Roman Catholic Church, Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the Irish Council of Churches, said that “while we all
look forward to the day when we can again gather together for collective
worship in our churches, we accept that at this time it would not be
appropriate to consider a full return to such gatherings.” The Church Leaders did, however, call on the Northern
Ireland Executive to keep the issue under regular review, “so that when
it is safe to do so, there can be an easing of the restrictions.”

With
regards to individual visits to church buildings for private prayer,
which is a different and a separate matter, the Church leaders said that where this is desired locally, and can be done safely,
“we would urge government to consider easing this particular
restriction sooner rather than later.”

The joint statement in full:

As
leaders of main Churches in Ireland, we recognise that Christians
across our land long for the day when we can all gather again inside our church buildings for fellowship and collective worship.

We
want to commend our ministers and clergy for their prayerful and
creative use of various online platforms and other means that have brought encouragement, through God’s word and through prayer, to
His scattered people. At the same time, we lament the fact that our
congregations are unable to gather together in person for worship. We
recognise, however, as we have said previously, that to be a community in the real sense of the word, means that as
individuals we acknowledge our interdependence. In loving our
neighbours, it is important that we all look out for one another and
continue to adhere to government advice on social distancing and other measures. The current restrictions are challenging, but are for
the common good and the protection of everyone across our island.

While
we all look forward to the day when we can again gather together for
collective worship in our churches, we accept that at this time it would not be appropriate to consider a full return to such
gatherings, apart from the limited number of people who are able to meet
for funeral services. At this time, we are not calling on the Northern
Ireland Executive to remove the current general restrictions on gathering together for church services, but we are
asking that the issue is kept under regular review, so that when it is
safe to do so there can be an easing of these restrictions.

The
issue of church buildings being permitted to open for individual visits
and private prayer, where this is desired locally and can be done so safely with appropriate social distancing in place, is
however a different and a separate matter. Where the medical and
scientific advice indicates that this limited step is possible, we would
urge the Executive to consider easing this particular restriction sooner rather than later.

Over
the past number of weeks, we have seen the vast majority of the people
embracing these challenging, but very necessary, restrictions
– working together for the benefit and good of all. We give thanks for
this demonstration of love and concern for all in our community. As we
enter into the second full month of this emergency on our island, we
urge everyone to remain resolute and vigilant,
encouraging one another on, so that we can come through this together.

The Rt Rev Dr William HenryModerator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

The Most Rev Eamon MartinRoman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh & Primate of All Ireland

The Most Rev John McDowellChurch of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh & Primate of All Ireland

The Rev Sam McGuffinPresident of the Methodist Church in Ireland

The Very Rev Dr Ivan PattersonPresident of the Irish Council of Churches

Church Leaders Group

The Church Leaders Group comprises the Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic Primates of All Ireland, the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, and the President of the Irish Council of Churches.